U.S. government space challenges include; major funding constraints, phase-out of old launch systems, new spacecraft development, increased international competition, and space infrastructure upgrades. This "killer" combo is driving private space sector participation for the first time.

Ester Dyson, an early investor in such companies as Flickr and del.icio.us, several IT start-ups, and a recent investor in commercial space, explains the role that entrepreneurs now have in rapidly changing what has come to be called “NewSpace.”